Katie Eleftheriou, 'fan turned boss' of the Bracknell Bees, gives a weekly insight into running a top ice hockey team.

It all started on the December 17, 2007.

Actually, it started a week before that with more meetings and more accounts and figures than you could possibly look at in a year, and more sleepless nights than I care to think about since having two children.

We succeeded in saving, with the help of all the brilliantly supportive fans, the best team in the EPL, the Bracknell Bees.

At the players’ meeting when we announced that the club had been saved, there was deathly silence, nothing, not a word. The guys were in total shock, believing the club was going to fold and the team would disband. Normal service was resumed however, when the first case of beer arrived.

The first of a few small negatives was the dip in form after Christmas, understandable after all the emotions the guys have gone through and the smell of the players changing room.

For those of you who have not had the “pleasure” of entering, conjure if you will a sweaty pubescent teenagers bedroom mixed with more than a hint of Turkish wrestlers jock strap, you have some idea of the aroma.

However, I am lead to believe it is a cure for headaches – at least you won’t remember why you went in there in the first place. Perhaps we should bottle it and sell it next season, and then again, perhaps not.

Now for positives, all the guys are still together and back to winning ways. Beating Guildford in the league 4-1 and for those of you who missed it (where were you?), it was some of the best hockey I have ever seen them play.

Getting into the final of the premier league cup against Slough with the final on Valentine’s Day, Thursday, February 14 (make a date for all you lovebirds out there), and the return of the period break entertainments.

The pick of these have been, the Tesco sponsored frozen T-shirt trolley dash, Bracknell Ice Hockey Club (BIHC) demonstration, Chuck-A-Duck (no animals have been hurt in this event), and 2Ten FM DJ’s Foxy and Giuliano. They were great sports allowing the juniors and the Bees to fire pucks at them, all in the cause of entertainment. We’re still open to any other suggestions. Still to come… synchro skating!

The week thus far….

The schools programme is gaining momentum. If anyone wants the players to come and visit their school, please get in contact via our website.

Apart from the lack of sleep, Sunday we had a home match against the Sheffield Scimitars where we beat them 3-1.Eleven hundred -plus cheering fans can’t be wrong. Where were the rest of you?? The boys were on form again and their performance was obviously not curtailed after the nail-biting, last second Cup semi-final win against Milton Keynes.

Monday, had a live radio interview with Andrew Peach on BBC Radio Berkshire. I hate live radio. Then following a full day’s work, I took my kids to Stick and Puck and then met with a newspaper. We also secured a booking for 30+ kids from a swimming club for one of our matches.

Tuesday, fixed the date for the cup final against Slough. League orders ASAP. Valentine’s Day it is. We are going to make a theme of it and BBC Berkshire will be providing live commentary on the night. If you have any romantic themes, please contact us.

Wednesday, more club meetings. Bees’ bingo night was a huge success. Thank you to all who assisted and attended.

Thursday, work followed by executive and management meeting.

Friday, work and printing programmes for our next home game against Chelmsford on Wednesday, February 6.

Saturday, ice skating lessons and handing out leaflets with the Bees, BBSC & BIHC in Bracknell town centre. Thanks to all our volunteers who gave up their time. Thank you also to Curry’s Direct in the Princess Square for displaying a DVD of our supreme Guildford game win.

Coming soon, the Bees Players and Players WAGS calendars 2008/9. All done in the best possible taste. Stay tuned for more instalments.